FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:       CONTACT:
FEBRUARY 2, 2007      Jeff Leys, Voices for Creative Nonviolence
773-878-3815
Gael Murphy, CODEPINK
202-412 6700

THE OCCUPATION PROJECT: A CAMPAIGN OF SUSTAINED NONVIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE TO END IRAQ WAR FUNDING LAUNCHES FEBRUARY 5TH

WHAT: Social justice advocates will launch the Occupation Project, an eight week long campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience to end funding for the Iraq war.  Concerned citizens all over the country will begin occupying their representatives office, pressuring them to end funding for the Iraq war. Featured speakers at the Washington, D.C. launch include: Kathy Kelly (Executive Director of Voices for Creative Nonviolence and just returned from two months living and working with Iraqi refugees in Amman, Jordan); Gael Murphy (Co-founder of CODEPINK: Women for Peace and Steering Committee of United for Peace and Justice); Kevin martin (Executive Director of Peace Action), Garett Reppenhagen (Chairman of the Board of Iraq Veterans Against the War) and Ellen Barfield (Board Member of Veterans for Peace).  Following the press event, campaign participants will commence the first Congressional office occupation of the national campaign.

WHY:  Extralegal lobbying--civil disobedience--will commence at the offices of Representatives and Senators who refuse to publicly pledge to vote against President Bush’s request for an additional $99.7 billion or more for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.  February 5 is the anniversary of Colin Powell’s speech to the U.N. in 2003 that laid the final foundation for the U.S. led invasion of Iraq.

WHERE: Press Conference Launch at the United Methodist Building, 100 Maryland Ave NE, Washington, D.C. followed by the first Congressional office occupation of the national campaign.

WHEN: 1:00 p.m., Monday, February 5.

WHO:  The Occupation Project is being organized by Voices for Creative Nonviolence, CODEPINK: Women for Peace, Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Peace Action affiliates and many local peace and justice groups.  Local campaigns are being organized in 20 states, from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon; and from Fairbanks, Alaska to Huntsville, Alabama.  Other states include: New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, California, Washington and Alaska.

FURTHER INFORMATION:  May be found in the Occupation Project section on the websites of Voices for Creative Nonviolence (www.vcnv.org) and of CODEPINK (www.codepinkalert.org)